Mitsubishi L200 MOT pass rate & common failures
453,482 MOT tests on the Mitsubishi L200 (1982–2022) give it an 80.2% pass rate. Against pick-up trucks of a similar age (21.3% fail rate), the L200 comes out 1.5pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
Best and worst L200 years
Ranked across L200 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Build year matters more than the headline suggests: 2021 cars pass 90.5% of the time while 2008 cars manage 70.6%, a 20.0-point spread.
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 13.7% of all tests — 5.4 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, position lamp and rear fog lamp — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 30,991 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.1% in the 0-30k band and 29.3% in the 150k+ band, a 22.2-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 30.9% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every L200 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 49 | 69.4% | 30.6% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1990 | 55 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1991 | 38 | 79.0% | 21.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 51 | 68.6% | 31.4% | Suspension |
| 1994 | 115 | 60.9% | 39.1% | Suspension |
| 1995 | 229 | 68.6% | 31.4% | Suspension |
| 1996 | 178 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 757 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 798 | 70.2% | 29.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 898 | 70.4% | 29.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 1,114 | 70.7% | 29.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 1,255 | 72.9% | 27.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 1,762 | 72.6% | 27.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 2,358 | 71.2% | 28.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 3,874 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 5,897 | 71.1% | 28.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 31,716 | 70.8% | 29.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 27,578 | 70.7% | 29.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 17,945 | 70.6% | 29.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 15,835 | 70.9% | 29.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 23,018 | 72.5% | 27.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 27,296 | 73.5% | 26.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 19,644 | 76.0% | 24.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 24,693 | 77.9% | 22.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 29,833 | 79.8% | 20.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 40,257 | 82.8% | 17.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 38,517 | 87.1% | 12.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 46,488 | 88.3% | 11.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 45,416 | 88.9% | 11.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 33,326 | 89.5% | 10.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 8,556 | 90.0% | 10.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2021 | 3,863 | 90.5% | 9.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.7% | 61,991 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.3% | 37,582 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.1% | 36,647 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.7% | 21,251 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 20,381 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.6% | 11,789 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 10,925 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.4% | 6,262 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 30,991 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 27,023 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 21,652 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 17,278 |
| 5 | Wipers | 15,803 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 15,499 |
| 7 | Joints | 13,120 |
| 8 | Shock absorbers | 11,482 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 30.9% | 139,885 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.2% | 87,179 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.8% | 80,957 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.5% | 47,848 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 44,745 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.1% | 32,421 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 31,563 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 98,555 | 11.6% |
| 60-90k | 111,750 | 17.9% |
| 90-120k | 96,153 | 24.1% |
| 120-150k | 65,376 | 27.7% |
| 150k+ | 49,956 | 29.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 453,082 | 19.8% |
| Petrol | 398 | 25.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 90,985 | 19.5% |
| 2022 | 95,864 | 19.3% |
| 2023 | 93,676 | 19.7% |
| 2024 | 89,739 | 20.1% |
| 2025 | 83,218 | 20.5% |
What to check before buying a Mitsubishi L200
- Lighting & signalling (13.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.3% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (8.1% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Mitsubishi L200?
80.2% of the 453,482 Mitsubishi L200 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 19.8% fail rate, across model years 1982–2022.
What does the Mitsubishi L200 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.7% of tests, then brakes (8.3%).
Which L200 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2021 has the best pass rate at 90.5% and 2008 the weakest at 70.6%, from 3,863 and 17,945 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect L200 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 29.3% for 150k+, a 22.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 453,482 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.